Interesting page on Israel's main battle tank... looks like a badass

[dionysus]

mofo.

http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/Mekava.htm

have any of these been taken out?

[dionysus]

1. *crickets*

[Kagemusha]

2. We don't know, Israel won't say and we can't just trust Hezbollah

There are degrees of 'taken out' too. You can kill a tank crew but do relatively minor damage to 'the tank' itself if you hit it with the right missile. (The Milan, or so I've heard.)

[davepc]

10. Reports are most Merkava loses are to russian produced AT-13 missiles

Russian 9К115-2 Metis-M

[BrotherBuzz]

3. Yes, Hizbullah has located an effective anti-tank missile

Officer, soldier killed in Lebanon battle
 
(VIDEO) Harsh battle occurs near village considered 'Hizbullah capital' in south Lebanon. Officer in armor's Battalion 52 killed after anti-tank missile hits Merkava tank. Almost simultaneously, another tank goes over powerful landmine, killing soldier

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3280436,00.html

[countryjake]

4. Hard to tell if this is the same kind...but it's definitely out!

[norml]

28. Ha Ha!

[Pepper32]

5. ....

:eyes:

[dionysus]

15. what is that condescending post supposed to mean?

I'm not cheerleading this war.

I've been accused of cheerleading for fucking hezbollah for hating the carnage this has wrought. That said, i like reading about the "technology" behind the death machines.

[Zynx]

6. Several have been taken out by Hezbollah AT missiles.

Hezbollah is reportedly using the AT-13, which is a 1990's vintage tandam shaped charge warhead made by the Russians.

Most of Israel's military casualties in this have been inflicted by AT missile.

[minkyboodle]

7. self edit

[dionysus]

14. oh fuck that

i have been labeled anti-semitic several times here for not towing the pro-israeli line over this conflict, just so you know

i hate all this violence on all sides, BUT

as a former WW2 buff and reading about the tanks and weapons and stuff i always find it interesting to read about the technology.

so don't be a fucking asshole and lob insults, ok?

[minkyboodle]

17. sorry

I've been out of sorts on this board recently
with the craziness. You are right that was uncalled
for, sorry the insult. I regret the post, I also
find some of the tech involved interesting and I mistook
your intentions. Once again sorry for unfairly
insulting you, with this current conflict and the
state of the message board I feel like I haven't
been myself recently.
Scott

[dionysus]

19. hey, that's okay man

have a good night!

btw, if you read the link it is a badass tank ;)

[teryang]

8. Looks like a US export model n/t

[davepc]

9. Its a Israeli design and produced vehicle

The shape of the turret looks similar to an untrained eye.

[Kagemusha]

12. Certainly they used the Abrams as a starting point in design.

They just went a lot further in customizing for their purposes.

[JackNewtown]

23. Plus, about 25% of its military budget comes from US taxpayers

Which is obviously quite a luxury that allows, among other things, more R&D. Israel has another military advantage in that it has a playground to test its new weapons in the form of the West Bank and Gaza.

[teryang]

13. Interesting

The write up suggested that some of the technology was imported. I suppose, as in aircraft, once you get to state of the art, designs start looking alike.

[quinnox]

11. a quick news search turned this up

Missiles neutralizing Israeli tanks

By BENJAMIN HARVEY, Associated Press Writer 55 minutes ago

JERUSALEM - Hezbollah's sophisticated anti-tank missiles are perhaps the guerrilla group's deadliest weapon in Lebanon fighting, with their ability to pierce
Israel's most advanced tanks.


Experts say this is further evidence that Israel is facing a well-equipped army in this war, not a ragtag militia.

Hezbollah has fired Russian-made Metis-M anti-tank missiles and owns European-made Milan missiles, the army confirmed on Friday.

In the last two days alone, these missiles have killed seven soldiers and damaged three Israeli-made Merkava tanks — mountains of steel that are vaunted as symbols of Israel's military might, the army said. Israeli media say most of the 44 soldiers killed in four weeks of fighting were hit by anti-tank missiles.

"They (Hezbollah guerrillas) have some of the most advanced anti-tank missiles in the world," said Yossi Kuperwasser, a senior military intelligence officer who retired earlier this summer.

"This is not a militia, it's an infantry brigade with all the support units," Kuperwasser said.


{condensed)


That's the problem with tanks, they have a lot of firepower but are easy targets because of their girth and bulk.

----------------------------------------
EDIT: COPYRIGHT. PLEASE POST ONLY 4 OR 5
PARAGRAPHS FROM THE COPYRIGHTED NEWS SOURCE
PER DU RULES.

[dionysus]

16. i googled the name of the tank because of that article, actually

peace to you!

it is telling a multi-million dollar war machine, with all it's defense mechanisms, can still be taken out like that

[bemildred]

18. Taking these out seems to be the main way IDF soldiers are being killed.nt

[lectrobyte]

20. it's all "badass" until you are on the business end of that barrel.

[JackNewtown]

25. It is easy to be "badass" when another country picks up 1/4 the tab nt

[Scurrilous]

21. Speaking of badasses:

http://www.socialistviewpoint.org/sept_03/pboys+tanks.jpg

[JackNewtown]

27. Very badass, especially the last photo

I am glad our Congress agrees without dissent to approve picking up much of the tab for the ICF. It reminds of how the Soviet Politboro without question would agree to the Soviet leader's requests to give "aid" to other nations...

[cigsandcoffee]

29. Why don't those Israeli tanks turn those kids in to a pink mist?

If indeed Israel's goal is to kill civilians - particularly women and children - then what is preventing them from obliterating the little rugrat throwing rocks at their tank?

Somehow, that kid feels safe enough to run out in to plain sight and harrass the tank - as if he knows he won't be targeted.

[w4rma]

22. From what I undestand only 3 tanks have been taken out. (nt)

[Kagemusha]

24. It's hard to have firm information obviously.

Also, a close impact by an anti-tank rocket is a good way to get killed even if you have body armor on.

[w4rma]

26. Yeah, that's true. (nt)